COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two men were injured after multiple gunshots were reportedly fired at a park in the Mount Vernon neighborhood early Wednesday morning during a Fourth of July fireworks celebration.
Officers with the Columbus Division of Police were called to Sawyer Park on North 20th Avenue just before 1:20 a.m. for a reported shooting.
Witnesses at the scene told police they were there to watch fireworks and hang out when gunfire broke out.
Detectives recovered 52 shell casings from the scene. Police were also notified of two shooting victims — an 18-year-old man and a 25-year-old man — who arrived at two separate hospitals.
One of them arrived at Ohio State East Hospital in critical condition, but police say he is expected to survive his injuries. The other was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and his condition was described as stable.
Tanesia Boston was sitting in her house listening to the fireworks when the shooting happened.
“I don't even know what to say, I really don't. it is just dangerous. There are kids everywhere, and I'm like, why are you guys doing this? We should be together, we should be happy we are seeing another year,” Boston said.
In the last year, the city has started adding portable cameras to the city parks. According to Columbus police, there were five shootings between the end of April and end of June last year at Saunders Park, Nafzgar Park, Glenwood Park, Westgate Park and Weinland Park. Those shootings left four dead and four injured.
After that violence, the city put about 20 portable cameras in parks. The city recently renewed the contract for those cameras, which Sawyer Park neighbors want.
“Just to make sure everybody is safe,” Boston said.
Police do not have information on possible suspects at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Columbus Police Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).